The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1887-01-14

~ arnaeo Commieere N Transportation
nonoos @ the aeahoard - >
seurcs e Csrsal supply.
WAsnrx09ox. Jan. &--Hcnator Aldrieh
made public last night tho report Of the
Senate committee on transportation
routes 70 the scaboard on the subject Of
railroad frclRhss In the United States and
foreign countries. The report contains
tabulatcd statements Of tho progress IN
production and TRANSPORTATION IN tho prsn-
cipal countries Of the world.
EfForts were made by the committee 70
group together the average yearly price
Of grain az the various grain ccntcrs IN the
United States for series Of years. and
show the difference In price per bushel -
various poinss between these geo
graphical sections, which would
represent, In measure,
the freight and the tendency Of the rates
Of freight charges. II II shown for ex-
ample that the difference In the prices OF
corn between the Atlantic ports and the
lakes have steadily declined from 81 cents
per bushel In 1873 70 10 cents per bushelin
lSS3; between Atlantic ports and western
river ports from 10 cents In 1873 70 II cents
in 1854
An attempt was made By the committee
TO ascertain the rates Of freight from the
principal intermediate points 70 the sea-
board. and also from intermediate points
70 the principal citics Of various States.
The investigation was conducted In hope
OF ascertaining facts in regard 10 the diff
ference between the rates charged for
long hauis and short hauls and 20 throw
light upon the vexed question Of long
and a short haul In relation 70 this in
quiry the committee says II the returns
from which the above summary Is con-
structed may be relied on (and the COM
mittee has been careful 70 select re-
turns that appeared on their face correcp
the rates for local freight are evidently
levied on somewhat general principle o.
what the traffic will bear.
In Massachusetts,, when terminals are
taken INTO consideration, the cost Of trans
porting bushcl Of wheat Is more nearly
equitable than in any other State repre-
scented in the summary. Still. we ind the
anomoly Of lesser rate for 80 miles than
for Is miles. In Pennsylvania the local
rates are higher than in Massachusetts,.
In Ohio the rate Ii about the same on 20
Is on - miles. while the long
haul Of Pts miles, instead OF bein
relatively less, ID relatively greater
In Massachusetts, in 1883 il cost 40
cents to transport q bushcl OF wheat 20
miles; the cost in Connections for trans
porting the same g. miles was cents; in
Pennsylvania, 50 miles, 40 cents, and
Ohio. 60 miles. cents. or course the con-
dltions may not have been the same
Farther West we find in Kansas ~
cents per bushel for transporting q
bushel OF wheat 46 mics. and In Massa-
-. g. mi
cents. while California pays So per bushei
for 80 miles.
Turning from the United States 70 for
eign countries the comm ittee show the
production and consumption Of cereals in
Europe. and bring out the fact that the in
crease in population has been relatively
much greater in great grain producing
countries than in the grain buying coun-
tries. The United Kingdom appears to
have purchased about two-thirds Of all
the wheat in the United States exported
during this period. and therefore special
attention has been given to England's sup
ply Of wheat For this purpose table was
prepared giving summary OF the wheat
imported into the United Kingdom OF
Great Britain and Ireland from various
countries during from 1895 to 1S{2, inclu
sive, and the decades from 1872 TO 1SS,
inclusive. showing the total importations
Of wheat and the proportions furnished
by the United States, Russia Germany
British North America. France, Denmark
and all other countries. In commenting
on this table the committee says: "a
glance at this summary not only
shows the rapidity OF the agricultural
growth OF the United States and its i'm
portance a. food-exporting country, but
Also presents some Of the economic
changes that have occurred in Europe
In the nrst period the United States sup
piled less than l per cent. Of wheat i'm
ported into the United Kingdom. and IL
che last period IL supplied nearly 81 pei
cent. From less than 100000 bushels i
increased BY series OF leaps and bounds
% about 508O00,0oO bushels. Excepting
the rapid growth Of imports Of whca
from India, which does NOT appea
IN this table, India being classified
under sssll other countries" there \
no instance In the economic histcr.
a growth 90 rapid. The imports from
Germany have decreased from the second
Whlle, relatively, the percentage Of de
crease has been steadily sinking from
20 IS per cent, next 70 - and Is. and last
" 10 per cent The capitalization Of tn
German Empire, the rapid increase o
population, the change from an agricul
tural condition 70 that Of diversified in
dustries al suggest themselves . rcs
sons for the decrease. In German
population u overtalEing the food-produ'
ing capacity o. the country"
one Of the most important features o
the report d the showing IL tabular forz
- 1870 - cheat fop = aorIaa AZ vonpa 4